Louisville extends Pitino and Petrino

Louisville, KY (Sports Network) – The University of Louisville has extended
the contracts of head basketball coach Rick Pitino and head football coach
Bobby Petrino, each through 2010.

The school also enhanced the 12-year contract of athletic director Tom Jurich.

“Today we make a commitment to the future of our hugely successful athletics
program,” said school president James Ramsey. “Our student athletes are
achieving in the classroom and on the field, we’ve made great strides in
gender equity and our facilities are considered among the best in the country.
We have come far under consistent, stable leadership, and it’s especially
important for us to maintain that stability as we prepare to enter the Big
East Conference.”

Louisville is set to leave Conference USA for the Big East in 2005.

Pitino had three years remaining on a six-year deal he signed in March 2001.

The Cardinals, ranked 25th, are 19-7 this season and likely to receive a bid
to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in Pitino’s three seasons.

Pitino took over to start the 2001-02 campaign and has guided Louisville to a
record of 63-27. The Cardinals made the NIT in his first year and reached the
NCAA Tournament last year, falling to Butler in the second round.

The 51-year-old Pitino is in charge of his fourth college program. He began
his head coaching career with Boston University in 1978, guided Providence to
a Final Four in his two years with the Friars and won a national championship
during a seven-year stint with Kentucky.

Petrino had four years remaining on the original contract he signed in
December 2002.

In his first season with the Cardinals Petrino guided the club to a 9-4
record, including a loss to Miami-Ohio in the GMAC Bowl.